Facts On Ladybugs

Almost every one of us has heard about ladybugs, and somewhere we have come across them. One of the most common places to find them is our own garden. However, there are several facts about the ladybugs that people do not know.

There are easily more than 5,000 different species of lady bugs world wide? In United States, there are more than five hundred species. However, the ladybugs come in various colors, and the most common of them all is the black one with bright red spots and wings. Some are orange and yellow and come around the Halloween time. There are ladybugs that are white, black, and even pink.

The lady bugs are cold blooded creatures and they usually hibernate in the winter. That is why you do not see them around winter. The lady bugs are most active in spring as they enjoy the warmth of the sun. Ladybugs can survive during winter by hibernating for nine months, and during this period they just remain in the holes they find. Their main aim is to keep their body warm for their survival.

Ladybugs are small and they do not seem to have a lot of defenses against their predators. However, as nature has it, they do have some good defense mechanisms. The lady bugs pretend to be dead and in extreme situations even go to the extent of falling to the ground to confuse their predators. This usually keeps them safe. They also secrete a foul smelling fluid that keeps the predators away.

Lady bugs are actually great as pets. They are very useful for gardeners and also act as a natural pest controlling measures. There are several insects and aphids that eat up the foliage in the gardens and agricultural fields. Ladybugs feed on these insects and keep the garden and crops free of damage. That way people do not have to use chemical ridden pesticides and insecticides. More..